Upcoming Releases - January '12

Here is a selection of films due out in UK cinemas next month.


Shame - 13th January
Drama
101 mins
18 certificate
Main cast: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale
Director: Steve McQueen

'In New York City, Brandon's carefully cultivated private life - which allows him to indulge his sexual addiction - is disrupted when his sister Cissy arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay.'

Official site: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/shame/

Margin Call - 13th January
Drama | Thriller
107 mins
15 certificate
Main cast: Zachary Quinto, Stanley Tucci, Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons
Director: J.C. Chandor

'A thriller that revolves around the key people at an investment bank over a 24-hour period during the early stages of the financial crisis.'

Official site: http://www.margincallmovie.com/


The Darkest Hour - 13th January
Action | Horror | Sci-Fi
89 mins
12A certificate
Main cast: Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Max Minghella
Director: Chris Gorak

'In Moscow, five young people lead the charge against an alien race who have attacked Earth via our power supply.'

Official site: http://www.thedarkesthourisnear.com/


War Horse - 13th January
Drama | War
146 mins
12A certificate
Main cast: Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis
Director: Steven Spielberg

'Young Albert enlists to service in WWI after his beloved horse, Joey, is sold to the cavalry. Albert's hopeful journey takes him out of England and across Europe as the war rages on.'

Official site: http://www.warhorsemovie.com/


Haywire - 18th January
Action | Thriller
93 mins
15 certificate
Main cast: Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton
Director: Steven Soderbergh

'A black ops super soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed and set up during a mission.'

Official site: http://www.haywiremovie.com/


Coriolanus - 20th January
Drama | Thriller
123 mins
15 certificate
Main cast: Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Brian Cox, Jessica Chastain
Director: Ralph Fiennes

'A banished hero of Rome allies with a sworn enemy to take his revenge on the city.'

Official site: http://www.coriolanusmovie.co.uk/


J. Edgar - 20th January
Biography | Drama
137 mins
15 certificate
Main cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench
Director: Clint Eastwood

'As the face of law enforcement in America for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career and his life.'

Official site: http://jedgarmovie.warnerbros.com/index.html

Underworld Awakening - 20th January
Action | Fantasy | Horror
88 mins
18 certificate
Main cast: Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy, India Eisley, Stephen Rea
Directors: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein

'When human forces discover the existence of the Vampire and Lycan clans, a war to eradicate both species commences. The vampire warrioress Selene leads the battle against humankind.'

Official site: http://www.entertheunderworld.com/


The Sitter - 20th January
Comedy
81 mins
15 certificate
Main cast: Jonah Hill, Ari Graynor, Sam Rockwell
Director: David Gordon Green

'A comedy about a college student on suspension who is coaxed into babysitting the kids next door, though he is fully unprepared for the wild night ahead of him.'

Official site: http://www.thesittermovie.com/


The Grey - 27th JanuaryAction | Drama
Running time and certificate: TBCMain cast: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, Frank Grillo, James Badge Dale
Director: Joe Carnahan

'In Alaska, an oil drilling team struggle to survive after a plane crash strands them in the wild. Hunting the humans are a pack of wolves who see them as intruders.'





Information obtained from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, http://www.filmdates.co.uk/, and the films' official websites.

Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas! Hope everyone has a lovely time. To celebrate, here's a festive sing-along from The Nightmare Before Christmas:



AlexValve

Alt movie poster #9

Alternative movie posters pay homage to film as well as showcase artistic talent and creativity. Some are minimalist, some complex, some include in-jokes for those who have seen the movie. This feature celebrates the work of fans, artists and designers whose love of film is clear to see.

Die Hard

Created by: Tim Doyle

Source: http://www.mrdoyle.com/gallery

Have you seen any alternative movie posters you'd like to share, or created your own and would like it featured? Get in touch!

-------------------------------------------------------

Visit LOVEFiLM, where you can choose from over 70,000 titles to rent and now, movies to watch online.

In focus: Alan Rickman

Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman was born on February 21^st 1946 in Acton, West London to a Welsh mother called Margaret and an Irish father called Bernard. He had an older brother (David), then a younger brother (Michael) and sister (Sheila). He enrolled at the Chelsea College of Art and Design where he met his partner Rima Horton and later spent a year at the Royal College of Art. He founded an amateur acting group with Horton called the Brook Green Players.

He formed a graphic design company with friends and continued working in this field until the age of 26, when he wrote to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) and received a scholarship. After RADA, he took a number of acting jobs around the UK in a variety of comedies, dramas and musicals.

He then joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) for a year, appearing in The Tempest, Love’s Labour’s Lost, and Antony and Cleopatra, before returning to rep. He made his TV debut in 1978 as Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet. This was followed by roles in Thérèse Raquin, Smiley’s People and an adaptation of Anthony Trollope’s The Barchester Chronicles, as the Reverend Obadiah Slope.

Between 1985 and 1987, Rickman played the Vicomte de Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses in London and then on Broadway, where he was nominated for a Tony award. When a film version was made, he was denied the same role, which instead went to John Malkovich. However, producer Joel Silver had seen his performance and asked him to star in Die Hard opposite Bruce Willis. This was Rickman’s first movie appearance and his role as the villainous Hans Gruber, thwarted by Willis’ cop John McClane, set the standard for British actors playing the bad guys in Hollywood films.

In 1990, Alan starred in Anthony Minghella’s Truly, Madly, Deeply opposite Juliet Stevenson. Then he played the flamboyant and devilish Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, for which he won a BAFTA. He appeared in Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility, with Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson, who also wrote the screenplay for the film, adapted from Jane Austen’s novel. Then Rickman took up directing duties for The Winter Guest starring Emma Thompson.

He was on fine comedic form playing Metatron, the voice of God, in Kevin Smith’s Dogma and Alexander Dane in the spoof sci-fi film Galaxy Quest with Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver. In 2001, Rickman starred in the first film in the hugely successful British fantasy series adapted from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. He took on the role of Professor Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and would star in the subsequent seven movies as well.

Alan stayed true to his roots, remaining committed to the British stage, and in 2003 he was named Vice Chairman of RADA. He joined an all-star cast for Richard Curtis’ Love Actually, which included Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson and Bill Nighy. He then voiced Marvin the paranoid android in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and reunited with Sigourney Weaver for the touching drama Snow Cake.

Rickman worked with Tim Burton for the movie adaptation of the musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which saw him singing with Johnny Depp, and Alice in Wonderland, where he provided the voice for the Blue Caterpillar.

Rickman recently starred in both parts of the final Harry Potter film, and will next be appearing in Gambit, written by the Coen brothers. The film, which is due in September 2012, follows an art curator who cons a wealthy collector into buying a fake Monet painting, and also stars Cameron Diaz and Colin Firth.

5 Recommended Films: 

• Die Hard 
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone 
• Galaxy Quest 
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 
• Sense and Sensibility

Other films to watch: Harry Potter film series, Dogma, Snow Cake, Michael Collins, Love Actually, Truly Madly Deeply, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Mesmer, An Awfully Big Adventure.

5 Movie Quotes:

• “I wanted this to be professional, efficient, adult, cooperative. Not a lot to ask. Alas, your Mr. Takagi did not see it that way... so he won't be joining us for the rest of his life. We can go any way you want it. You can walk out of here or be carried out. But have no illusions. We are in charge. So, decide now, each of you. And please remember: we have left nothing to chance.” – Hans Gruber in Die Hard 
• “Human beings have neither the aural nor the psychological capacity to withstand the awesome power of God's true voice. Were you to hear it, your mind would cave in and your heart would explode within your chest. We went through five Adams before we figured that one out.” – Metatron in Dogma 
• “There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few who possess the predisposition... I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death. Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confident enough to not pay attention!” – Professor Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone 
• “Wait a minute. Robin Hood steals money from my pocket, forcing me to hurt the public, and they love him for it? That's it then. Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings, and call off Christmas!” – Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves 
• “You just... know? Once again, you astonish me with your gifts Potter. Gifts mere mortals could only dream of possessing. How grand it must be, to be the chosen one.” – Professor Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

5 Pieces of Trivia: 

• While filming Die Hard (1988), he was found to be proficient at mimicking American accents, and a scene in which Hans Gruber and John McClane finally meet was then added to the script. 
• Auditioned for the character of Rimmer in the sci-fi TV series Red Dwarf, which went to Chris Barrie. 
• Featured twice in the Times Online's "The 50 Best Movie Villains" chart: he had the 41st position for his role as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) and the 10th as Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988). 
• Was Richard Curtis's first choice to play Charles in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). Curtis was very hesitant in casting Hugh Grant as he had so wanted Rickman. 
• For the shot where Hans Gruber falls from the top of the building in Die Hard (1988), he was actually dropped by a stuntman from a 20-foot high model onto an air bag. To get a genuine surprised look, the stunt man dropped him on the count of two instead of three.

Trailer: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a comedy that follows a group of British retirees who travel to India to spend their retirement in a hotel, which turns out to be less luxurious than advertised. Directed by John Madden, the film stars Bill Nighy, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Penelope Wilton and Dev Patel, and is due for release in UK cinemas on February 24th 2012.

Interview: Martin Scorsese (Hugo)

Mymovies.net have released an exclusive interview with Martin Scorsese, who directed Hugo, starring Asa Butterfield, Chloe Grace Moretz & Ben Kingsley:

Review: Serenity

Serenity is a science fiction film written and directed by Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel), who created the much-missed TV series Firefly, which features the same characters and takes place in the same universe. Unfortunately it lasted only 14 episodes but its strong DVD sales and large fan-base led to the team reuniting for a cinema release. The film stars Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Adam Baldwin, Summer Glau and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Read my review at Suite101: A Review of Joss Whedon's Sci-Fi Movie Serenity

Upcoming Releases - December '11

Here is a selection of films due out in UK cinemas next month.


Hugo - 2nd December
Adventure | Drama | Family
127 mins
U certificate
Main cast: Asa Butterfield, Chloe Grace Moretz, Christopher Lee, Jude Law
Director: Martin Scorsese

'Set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.'

Official site: http://www.hugomovie.com/

The Thing - 2nd December
Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi
103 mins
15 certificate
Main cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen
Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.

'At an Antarctica research site, the discovery of an alien craft leads to a confrontation between graduate student Kate Lloyd and scientist Dr. Sander Halvorson. While Dr. Halvorson keeps to his research, Kate partners with helicopter pilot Sam Carter to pursue the alien life form.'

Official site: http://www.thethingmovie.net/

Happy Feet Two - 2nd December
Animation | Comedy | Family
100 mins
U certificate
Main cast: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Hugo Weaving, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon
Director: George Miller

'Mumble's son, Erik, is struggling to realize his talents in the Emperor Penguin world. Meanwhile, Mumble and his family and friends discover a new threat to their home - one that will take everyone working together to save them.'

Official site: http://happyfeettwo.warnerbros.com/index.html


Margaret - 2nd December
Drama
150 mins
15 certificate
Main cast: Anna Paquin, Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo, Jean Reno, Kieran Culkin
Director: Kenneth Lonergan

'A young woman witnesses a bus accident and is caught up in the aftermath, where the question of whether or not it was intentional affects many people's lives.'


New Year's Eve - 8th December
Comedy | Romance
118 mins
12A certificate
Main cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutcher, Abigail Breslin, Robert De Niro, Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer
Director: Garry Marshall

'The lives of several couples and singles in New York intertwine over the course of New Year's Eve.'

Official site: http://newyearsevemovie.warnerbros.com/index.html


Puss in Boots - 9th December
Adventure | Animation | Comedy
90 mins
U certificate
Main cast: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton
Director: Chris Miller

'A story about the events leading up to the sword fighting cat's meeting with Shrek and his friends.'

Official site: http://www.pussinbootsthemovie.com/


Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - 16th December
Action | Adventure | Crime
129 mins
12A certificate
Main cast: Robert Downey Jr, Rachel McAdams, Jude Law, Jared Harris, Noomi Rapace
Director: Guy Ritchie

'Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson join forces to outwit and bring down their fiercest adversary, Professor Moriarty.'

Official site: http://sherlockholmes2.warnerbros.com/


Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol - 26th December
Action | Adventure | Thriller
Running time and certificate: TBC
Main cast: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames
Director: Brad Bird

'The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization's name.'

Official site: http://www.missionimpossible.com/


The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - 26th December
Drama | Thriller
Running time and certificate: TBC
Main cast: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgard, Christopher Plummer
Director: David Fincher

'Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Craig) is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander (Mara), a young computer hacker.'

Official site: http://www.dragontattoo.net/


The Lady - 30th December
Biography
135 mins
TBC certificate
Main cast: Michelle Yeoh, David Thewlis, Jonathan Raggett, Jonathan Woodhouse
Director: Luc Besson

'The story of pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi and the academic and writer Michael Aris; a true story of love set against political turmoil.'

Information obtained from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, http://www.filmdates.co.uk/, and the films' official websites.

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Visit LOVEFiLM.com, where you can choose from over 70,000 titles to rent as well as movies to watch online.

Review: Saint

Fantasy horror movie Saint was written and directed by Dutch filmmaker Dick Maas, and depicts St. Nicholas as a murderous bishop. Originally titled Sint in the Netherlands and called Saint Nick for the US DVD release, it tells the story of a killer Santa-like figure who kidnaps and murders when there is a full moon on December 5th. The film stars Huub Stapel, Egbert Jan Weeber, Caro Lenssen and Bert Luppes.

Read my review at Suite101: A Review of the Fantasy Horror Movie Saint

Review: Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

It’s Christmastime in snowy Finland and a young boy called Pietari (Onni Tommila) watches a team of men drilling down into the Korvantunturi Mountains on the border with Russia. These ‘seismic researchers’ find sawdust and blocks of ice beneath the earth and their leader is pleased with the discovery of a burial ground. As they dig further down, Pietari tells his friend he thinks Santa Claus is buried under the mountains.

He goes home to research Santa and finds books depicting him as a wild beast-like man who kidnaps naughty children. Pietari joins his father Rauno (Jorma Tommila) and friends to go round up reindeer, which will be used to sustain them over the winter months. Hundreds of the animals are found slaughtered, their bodies spread across the white landscape. The men believe it was wolves but Pietari finds footprints in the snow similar to those he saw in a book about Santa Claus…

Strange occurrences then befall their small village. Rauno finds an injured man in his bear pit who shows a peculiar interest in Pietari. Radiators, potato sacks, hairdryers and children go missing. It becomes clear that Pietari was right, and Santa has been found deep in the mountains. He is being held by people who want to make money out of his legend, but Santa’s elves are determined to get their master back.

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale is a very different kind of festive movie. It offers a twisted take on the mythical Christmas story of the jolly old man with a white beard dressed in red, who hands out presents to children who’ve been well behaved. This film exposes an ulterior legend, one that depicts Santa Claus as a scary creature with large horns, and his ‘little helpers’ as naked and creepy old men who do their master’s bidding.

The film is dissimilar to the cheesy movies that are usually associated with Christmas. Although it is very funny in places, it has a sinister edge and doesn’t mock the plot. The actors play their roles straight-faced, as if the events really are occurring.

The protagonist, Pietari, is an endearing character and his strained relationship with his father Rauno comes across effectively. The young actor who plays him, Onni Tommila, is the real-life son of the man playing his dad, Jorma Tommila. Pietari’s mother is missing for an unexplained reason, and his father often seems like he doesn’t know how to deal with him on his own. Their relationship grows and develops throughout the film as they work together to save the children and stop Santa’s elves.

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale is based on two award-winning shorts by the director Jalmari Helander, who came up with the story behind them with his brother Juuso. Rare Exports Inc. (2003) and The Official Rare Exports Inc. Safety Instructions (2005) were written by, directed by, and star the same people as this film, and they have acquired something of a cult reputation on the internet. They were adapted for the big screen in the form of this feature length prequel.

This Finnish film is fun and interesting, with an atmospheric setting, beautiful landscapes, blowing snow and whistling winds. It is a twisted and imaginative film that is also quite brief, at just 84 minutes. A real Christmas treat, this definitely makes a nice change from the usual festive-themed movies and it’s one I’d happily watch every December.

[DVD screener provided by Flickering Myth. Review originally posted here]

Interview: Johnny Depp (The Rum Diary)

Mymovies.net have released an exclusive interview with Johnny Depp, who stars in Bruce Robinson's The Rum Diary:

Review: Five Minarets in New York

Drama Five Minarets in New York splits its time between New York and Turkey. After a series of covert raids and rough interrogations, one criminal reveals the identity of a dangerous international terrorist referred to by the codename ‘Dajjal’. Under duress, the man tells Turkish police officers that the person they’re looking for is Hadji Gumush (Haluk Bilginer).

In New York, Agent David Becker (Robert Patrick) and his team from the FBI receive a warrant from Interpol and arrest Muslim scholar and family man Hadji Gumush. His wife Maria (Gina Gershon), daughter and friend Marcus (Danny Glover) seem clueless about his past and believe him to be innocent. Hadji appears to be a devoted husband and father but could this just be a front for his sinister true identity?

Two Turkish secret service officers called Firat (Mahsun Kirmizigül) and Acar (Mustafa Sandal) are sent to America to extradite Hadji. On their way to the airport to fly him back to Turkey, their cars come under attack and Hadji escapes custody. His friend Marcus planned the escape and helps him go into hiding to elude the authorities because he fears that Hadji won’t be treated fairly if he’s taken back to Turkey. Firat and Acar hunt for Hadji and when they find him he submits to being taken to Istanbul. After spending some time with him, they start to have doubts about his guilt. But if he’s innocent, why has he been accused of being a fundamentalist and the leader of an international terror network?

Five Minarets in New York was written and directed by Mahsun Kirmizigül, who also stars in the film as one of the main characters. This is his third film and, following two solely Turkish productions, it is his English-language debut. He spent all the profit he made from his previous movies on the making of this one, and he manages to not stray too far from his roots.

The film examines whether a man’s innocence or guilt matters to someone who is blinded by and hunting for vengeance, and asks the audience to think about how far they’d go to bring someone to justice. There is an interesting twist at the end of the film that turns the events on their head. The hunted man and one of his hunters are revealed to have more in common than it first appeared. 

Large parts of the film are uninvolving as viewers are given minimal background information about many of the characters, who are quite one-dimensional. No one stands out as the person we should be identifying with and rooting for. The constant uncertainty about Hadji’s guilt is the main focus of attention for the viewer. There is also a difficult balance in the film as it switches between American thriller and Turkish film commenting on Islamophobia. There is decent American talent, with three well-known actors who are impressive if a little underused in their supporting roles. The thought-provoking story effectively draws the audience’s attention and as it reaches its conclusion, the strands unwind to reveal a smart sub-plot underneath.

[DVD screener provided by Flickering Myth. Review originally posted here]

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Alt movie poster #7

Alternative movie posters pay homage to film as well as showcase artistic talent and creativity. Some are minimalist, some complex, some include in-jokes for those who have seen the movie. This feature celebrates the work of fans, artists and designers whose love of film is clear to see.

The Goonies

Created by: Jerod Gibson

Source: http://society6.com/jerodgibson/The-Goonies_Print

Have you seen any alternative movie posters you'd like to share, or created your own and would like it featured? Get in touch!

Upcoming Releases - November '11

Here is a selection of films due out in UK cinemas next month.


In Time - 1st November
Crime | Sci-Fi | Thriller
109 mins
12A certificate
Main cast: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde, Johnny Galecki
Director: Andrew Niccol

'In a future where people stop ageing at 25, but are engineered to live only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the situation is a shot at immortal youth. Here, Will Salas finds himself accused of murder and on the run with a hostage - a connection that becomes an important part of the way against the system.'

Official site: http://www.intimemovie.com/


The Rum Diary - 4th November
Drama | Mystery | Thriller
120 mins
15 certificate
Main cast: Johnny Depp, Giovanni Ribisi, Aaron Eckhart, Amber Heard
Director: Bruce Robinson

'American journalist Paul Kemp takes on a freelance job in Puerto Rico for a local newspaper during the 1950s and struggles to find a balance between island culture and the expatriates who live there.'

Official site: http://rumdiarythemovie.com/


Straw Dogs - 4th November
Thriller
110 mins
18 certificate
Main cast: James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgard, James Woods
Director: Rod Lurie

'L.A. screenwriter David Sumner relocates with his wife to her hometown in the deep South. There, while tensions build between them, a brewing conflict with locals becomes a threat to them both.'

Official site: http://www.strawdogsmovie.com/


Arthur Christmas - 11th November
Animation
Running time and certificate: TBA
Main cast: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy
Director: Sarah Smith

'On Christmas night at the North Pole, Santa's youngest son looks to use his father's high-tech operation for an urgent mission.'

Official site: http://www.arthurchristmas.com/




Immortals - 11th November
Action | Drama | Fantasy
Running time and certificate: TBA
Main cast: Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, John Hurt, Luke Evans, Freida Pinto
Director: Tarsem Singh

'Theseus is a mortal man chosen by Zeus to lead the fight against the ruthless King Hyperion, who is on a rampage across Greece to obtain a weapon that can destroy humanity.'

Official site: http://www.immortalsmovie.com/


My Week with Marilyn - 18th November
Drama
Running time and certificate: TBA
Main cast: Michelle Williams, Dominic Cooper, Emma Watson, Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench
Director: Simon Curtis

'Colin Clark, an employee of Sir Laurence Olivier's, documents the tense interaction between Olivier and Marilyn Monroe during production of The Prince and the Showgirl.'

Official site: http://myweekwithmarilynmovie.com/


The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 - 18th November
Adventure | Drama | Fantasy
115 mins
TBC certificate
Main cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning, Michael Sheen
Director: Bill Condon

'The Quileute and the Volturi close in on expecting parents Edward and Bella, whose unborn child poses different threats to the wolf pack and vampire coven.'

Official site: http://www.breakingdawn-themovie.com/


50/50 - 25th November
Comedy | Drama
100 mins
15 certificate
Main cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard
Director: Jonathan Levine

'Adam is a 27 year old writer of radio programs and is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer. With the help of his best friend, his mother, and a young therapist at the cancer center, Adam learns what and who the most important things in his life are.'

Official site: http://www.50-50themovie.com/


Dream House - 25th November
Drama | Mystery | Thriller
92 mins
15 certificate
Main cast: Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts, Marton Csokas
Director: Jim Sheridan

'Successful publisher Will Atenton quits a job in New York City to relocate his wife, Libby, and two girls to a quaint New England town. But as they settle into their new life, they discover their perfect home was the murder scene of a mother and her children. And the entire city believes it was at the hands of the husband who survived.'

Official site: http://www.dreamhousemovie.net/


Moneyball - 25th November
Biography | Drama | Sport
133 mins
12A certificate
Main cast: Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jonah Hill
Director: Bennett Miller

'The story of Oakland A general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.'

Official site: http://www.moneyball-movie.com/



Information obtained from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, http://www.filmdates.co.uk/, and the films' official websites.

Review: Assassination Games

Assassination Games pairs veteran action icon Jean-Claude Van Damme with rising action star Scott Adkins in a tale of two skilled hitmen on the hunt for the same target. Vincent Brazil (Van Damme) and Roland Flint (Adkins) are both offered a contract on a criminal called Polo Yakur (Ivan Kaye), who was just released from prison. Flint has been living quietly in a remote part of the world with his bedridden wife. She was beaten, raped and put into a coma by Polo and his men, and she hasn’t recovered from it. Flint refuses the contract at first but ultimately has a change of heart. After finding out that another assassin has taken on the mission, he decides to go after Polo for revenge, regardless of the payment.

It comes to light that Flint has millions of dollars that belonged to corrupt Interpol agents, and they want it back. They arranged to have Polo released from jail in the hope of luring Flint out of hiding so they can capture him and retrieve their money. Brazil and Flint get in each other’s way when they both try to take out Polo so they fail to kill him. After a fight, they decide to work together on the contract as they have a common goal. However, because the mission is personal for Flint, it becomes very dangerous for both of them.

Van Damme’s Brazil is a professional contract killer. Cool, calm and calculated, he is a loner who trusts no one and doesn’t like anyone getting close to him. All he has is a cute pet turtle that retreats into its shell every time he tries to stroke it. Assassination Games is a real family affair for Van Damme as his daughter and one of his sons appear in the film. Kristopher Van Varenberg (Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Van Varenberg) plays an Interpol agent and Bianca Van Varenberg plays Flint’s wife Anna. They have both had roles in a number of Vam Damme’s other movies as well. Also, he was filming Assassination Games during his TV documentary series Jean-Claude Van Damme: Behind Closed Doors, which gave viewers a glimpse into his personal life.

Scott Adkins is solid as the assassin with a personal vendetta but he isn’t given enough fights to show off his skills and the film doesn’t capitalize on the potential of his team-up with the action legend. Adkins faced off against Matt Damon in The Bourne Ultimatum and played a Russian inmate and fighter in the Undisputed series of films. He is due to star with Van Damme again in Universal Soldier: A New Dimension and The Expendables 2.

Assassination Games is mostly set and filmed in Romania. The action sequences are well edited but scarce and there is a lack of man-to-man fight scenes. This is one that will probably satisfy those who like Van Damme’s extensive back catalogue of action films but it doesn’t really offer anything original or special to attract new audiences. It’s an enjoyable yet unspectacular action film that offers decent performances from its two leading men.

[DVD screener provided by flickfeast. Review originally posted here]

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